Arlington County may start paying employees to live where they work, reported Ballston-Virginia Square Patch late Friday. During 2013 budget talks last week, officials considered including funds that would support a one-time grant to county employees who buy a home in Arlington.

From Patch:

Putting $114,000 into [a live-where-you-work] program would allow the county to offer grants to its employees who decide to buy a house in Arlington. That funding level should be sufficient for about 40 employees, said Jeanne Wardlaw, the county’s Compensation Division chief. Grants are capped at 1 percent of the average home price in Arlington, she said.

Based on the assumption that $114,000 would be sufficient for 40 employees, eligible Arlington employees would on average receive $2,850 if they purchased a home in the area. The county already has a few subsidies in place for its employees, like $130 a month for public transit, $20 a month for employees who bike to work and $35 a month for those who walk. Arlington will make final decisions regarding the budget on Tuesday.